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Here’s a crochet pattern by Tonya Bush, filled with hearts (as fits the date): a scarf made entirely with corner to corner stitches.

Tonya Bush at Nana’s Crafty Home.

Reminds me of the pixel graphics of the computer games in my youth. In a completely warm and nostalgic way, of course! 🙂 I personally find heart shapes a little difficult to make with pixels (or quilting, knitting, crocheting, what have you) but Tonya’s are perfect. Plus, I love the shade of grey she chose.

“The outfit is based on those common in 1490’s Florence, largely documented by Domenico Ghirlandaio, and consists of a camicia, side lacing gamurra (with bead and sequin embellished neckline decoration), a set of tie on sleeves (also embellished), a velvet giornea, and a #tambourbeading embellished and faux leather belt! Other accessories include a lasso holder, faux hair braid, and a diadem […]”

My latest personal sewing project involves repair. Apparently I have a habit of crossing my legs at exactly the same spot and wearing out the fabric. Since this pair of knit pants is for home use, I didn’t shy away from patching it with a heart cut from an old, ratty t-shirt.

Repairing is not as exciting as, say, making something useful and beautiful from scratch. However, I’ve truly come to appreciate being able to extend the life of an otherwise perfectly serviceable article with a minor adjustment or addition.

This isn’t the first pair of pants I’ve mended, and I suspect it won’t be the last. 🙂

It’s telling that no-one refused to share their favorite socks. Like sauna or certain traditional foods, wool socks are a core part of the Finnish identity. Journalist Marko Junkkari writes that wool socks are a symbol of ordinary, everyday life, which is the image the candidates aspire to portray. If one candidate were to refuse sharing their favourite socks, they might come across too cocky and pompous.

On one hand, I was left wondering how serious the article was, but on the other I do appreciate that Junkkari thought to ask and the candidates all responded. It’s not that I really need to know what kind of socks each candidate is wearing. Rather, knowing that our presidential candidates do wear wool socks and took the request seriously is a nice reminder of our unifying humanity, especially in a small country that’s partially in the Arctic.

Another reason I loved the article is that I do love wool socks! Sock knitting is still very much a living tradition in Finland. In fact, one of the candidates told HS that her mother knitted her socks, and two more said their socks were made by supporters. Another of the three female candidates said she’s favoring a loaner pair.

Oh, Finland – never change! 🙂

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked to mention this; just passing along a good thing.

Miho Fujita creates delicate jewelry and accessories out of crocheted lace under the label fujitamiho. If that sounds hopelessly old-fashioned, you’re in for a treat: the end result is about as far as you can get.

Fujitamiho on Instragram.

The accessories are made to look like leaves, berries, clusters of mushrooms and other natural elements.

Fujitamiho on Instragram.

Fujitamiho on Instragram.

The crochet is incredibly tiny and delicate, and the shapes are as marvellous as only a close attention to detail can produce. Some of the jewelry looks almost modern and minimalistic. The pale, natural colors certainly speak to my Nordic sensibilities. 🙂

Is it finally time for me to dig up my crochet hook? (It’s probably been **cough cough** 25 years or more at this point… Actually, only(!) five or so. 🙂 Anyway.) I have some greyish blue yarn stashed away that might make a great silver fox variant.

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked to mention this; just passing along a good thing.

“We’re a resource guide: we come up with the costume designs, explain what you’ll need to pull off the look, and provide links to where you can buy the various components. […]

“We love Halloween. We really love Halloween. We think it’s cool that there’s one day a year when people can dress up as anything they want. What we don’t think is cool is that increasingly women are only supposed to dress up as one thing: “Sexy _____” (fill in the blank). Sexy Nurse, Sexy Cowgirl, Sexy whatever. […]

“There’s nothing wrong with sexy (for adults), and if you want to go that route, fine. Have fun! We just want there to be other options as well.”

I couldn’t agree more – options are always good, since we’re not made in one single mold. And they run a costume contest!

Take Back Halloween!

“What we’re looking for: costumes that fit into our own costume categories here on the website. That means a goddess or mythological figure, a great queen, a notable historical person, or a glamorous star.”

Moomin is one of the most widely known Finnish brands. It’s not what comes to mind when talking about high fashion, though.

The spring/summer17 collection from AALTO, a fashion brand by Finnish designer Tuomas Merikoski, did the previously unthinkable and introduced Moomins at Paris Fashion Week in September 2016. I only just discovered it, and it’s pretty exciting!

According to Helsingin Sanomat, the collection mixes the Moomin world with grunge ideology, among others, and is unique in that illustrations from the whole work, not just part, were licensed for it. Pieces include for instance pantsuits, dresses, t-shirts, jackets, knits and these incredible hand-embroidered Too-Ticky shoes: